Opening Day for local Citizen Scientists

So, the butterflies and dragonflies did not fare well on “Opening Day” of survey season. The weather the past week has been typical for April – you know – all the showers that bring May flowers… After a cold and bleak winter, I am ready for butterflies and sunshine! I’ve got my fingers crossed that Mother Nature will cooperate this week – looks like we have a small window for sunshine and warm temperatures on Friday – thanks WeatherUnderground for the hourly forecast.

In the meantime there is lots of business to take care of… Another meeting with Dr. Leslie Ries from the North American Butterfly Monitoring Network took place this week. Surveys generate  A LOT of data and participatory science projects are continuing to gain popularity. The current trend to integrate web-based social media applications is now contributing volumes of information to scientists. So what do we do with all this information?

There is an ongoing effort to transcribe historical and current data collected by the volunteers of the OBNWR count. At times this task seems overwhelming. It was discovered during research for my capstone project that the survey started by Jim Waggener and other volunteers in 1989 is the second oldest of its kind in the country. Much of the data has been organized and kept in programs and formats that are no longer widely used or supported. In order to keep volunteers interested and make the information accessible, it is imperative to plan for and manage the large volumes of data collected.

One solution to tame the unwieldy volumes of data and foster openness and sharing is NAB-NET. This program is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the University of Maryland (UMD) as well as support from the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC). This collaborative effort of professional scientists and data specialists has created an easy to use interface for grass-root organizations faced with the daunting task of data integration.

The goals of the NABMN program are: integrate and track butterfly monitoring programs that are currently ongoing in North America; standardize survey protocol (for new surveys in particular); foster sharing and openness of data collected; design suitable applications for data assimilation and engage even more volunteers. Established programs are included by special invitation and must undergo a series of questions that focus on survey protocol and data collection procedures. The program has secured funding through 2016. Future projects include integration with the MonarchNet web site as well as a comprehensive list of counts that are no longer engaged, but the historical data could provide significant insight into population trends.

Even though Opening Day 2015 was disappointing from a lepidopteran standpoint, it was fantastic to see my Friday Friends and I even got a Gold Star on my combo for my planters. 

Is there a 12 Step Program for Gardening?

Spring in the new yarden has brought a bounty of surprises… I’ve never “inherited” a garden. It’s been a pleasure watching numerous bulbs that popped up this spring. Dozens of daffodils served as our centerpiece for Easter dinner. Hostas and daylilies have emerged with the warm temperatures – can’t wait to see them bloom! Fingers crossed, I’m almost done moving the bulbs around -hopefully they’ll take root and bloom again next year.

The perfect centerpiece for Easter dinner.

One of the first tasks was to remove invasive Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergerii) as well as several overgrown junipers. I’m knee deep in an effort to get a grip on invasives, more on that in another post. While I’m an advocate for planting natives, I didn’t get the nickname ‘Flower Diva’ without a reason! I have to admit, I’m a plant snob. There, I’ve said it out loud, but I have to be. If I wasn’t I would literally have one of everything in the yard.

I’m a sucker for ‘chic’ marketing!

Many years ago I had to make some difficult choices and focus my efforts. The result? A small, but growing collection of ‘chocolate’ plants (they have to have chocolate names or be chocolate scented/colored) and my hostas… Oh my – the inspiration? A group of amazing gardeners who met on a somewhat regular basis many years ago and called themselves, ‘The Nacho Society.’ I have ‘Guacamole’ (who is turning 20 years old this year), ‘Peach Salsa,’ ‘Frozen Margarita’ and my coveted ‘Tortilla Chip’ – all from Green Hill Farm.

So they say that the first step in getting help is admitting that you have a problem, but I don’t want to recover from this addiction! I have met some of the most amazing people because of my little habit. I’m especially thrilled when their paths cross. Be sure to mark your calendars and set your DVR’s for this Saturday, June 7, 8AM on channel 8, when two of my favorite gardeners and friends, David Yost and Karen Rexrode will be featured on the weekly TV show Merrifield’s Gardening Advisor. Here’s a link in case you missed their last episode, ‘Flowers for Mother’s Day.’

Thriller, spiller & filler…

Very pleased with the combination!

Enjoy!